Week 7: Subliminal Messages

The point of advertisement is to persuade the audience into buying a product. Sometimes it's hard to say what the limits in advertising should be - or whether or not there should be limits. What is considered taking things too far? What is considered a lie? Manipulate is a harsh word, but the reality is that the goal of any ad is to manipulate the viewer into feeling a certain way.

Subliminal messaging in advertising can be a tricky subject. Many people don't like feeling as through they are being tricked into feeling some way. Consumers like to feel like they are making decisions for themselves, that they are independent thinkers... and I believe that this is why subliminal advertisements do not appeal to everyone.

Personally, for the most part I don't see a problem with subliminal messages in advertising. I find that often times, brands find very creative subliminal ways to promote their product. For instance the Coca Cola "smile" made from the first 3 letters of the logo is a fun and creative ad. I see nothing wrong with the company selling the idea that Coke makes you smile! 

Another creative subliminal ad that comes to mind is the Tostitos logo. If you look carefully, you actually see two people enjoying a bowl of Tostitos with salsa. This is very clever and also very cute. It expresses the idea that you can enjoy Tostitos with friends and family.